Trojan Football

Measuring in as a 6-foot-6, 300-pound lineman, Chris Bleich uses unique size and strength to his advantage on the gridiron.
But he also puts in the work, saying he goes to the gym six days a week to make sure he reaches his full potential when playing under the Friday night lights at Spartan Stadium.
“He’s got such a tremendous work ethic,” Valley West head football coach Pat Keating said of Bleich. “He’s accountable, he’s dependable, he works out as much as anybody. He really strives to be the best he could possibly be at what he does.”
That dedication paid off for Bleich and Nanticoke Area senior Justin Casey on Monday, when the Pennsylvania Football Writers announced the two Wyoming Valley Conference standouts had earned all-state recognition.
Casey starred on both sides of the ball as a defensive end and tight end for the Trojans. He was one of six players who made all-state in Class 3A as a defensive lineman. Casey had 82 tackles and 13 sacks on defense, as well as 16 catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns on offense.
According to Nanticoke Area head coach Ron Bruza, Casey set new single-season and career records in sacks for a Nanticoke Area player.
Bruza called Casey the complete package, someone who excels on the field and in the classroom, as he is the school’s Honor Society president.
“He wants to be the best at everything he does. Just a great young man with a great future,” Bruza said. “He’s just a physical, dominant player with a motor that never stops.”
The all-state teams in Classes 2A, 4A and 6A will be announced this morning.
Casey is not yet committed to a college and he is currently playing a key role for Nanticoke Area’s basketball team, which played Monday night at West Scranton.

12/18/2016
Citizens Voice Football All Stars
Citizens Voice

Justin Casey
School: Nanticoke Area
Year: Senior
Position: DE/TE
Ht/Wt: 6-6/207
Casey’s size made him difficult to block and tough to cover. He led the team with 16 catches for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, he had 82 total tackles and 13 sacks.

FOUR FOR FOUR
Head coach Ron Bruza has a new assistant coach to work with this season. Tony Chiarucci, a local high school veteran, joins the program as defensive coordinator.
The Trojans will run a 4-4 scheme, and while it’s not a major change, Bruza said the team is coming along nicely.
What Bruza likes about the scheme is that it’s a balanced defense that allows the Trojans to play to their strength.
So far, the players have been buying into what the staff is selling on the defensive side.
Last year the Trojans ranked seventh in the WVC in total defense allowing 262.1 yards per game. However, they ranked 13th in points allowed with 34.1.

2. STUDY THOSE ASSIGNMENTS

Turns out assignments are not only for the classroom. They have them in football as well. One area Bruza hopes to see improvement is on the scoreboard. Last year the Trojans averaged 24.6 points per game which ranked them eighth in the WVC. Even with that, the team finished 2-8. So something needs to improve.
It seems as if the Trojans may have found the answer. The offensive line last year was relatively young. The unit was mostly juniors who came into the season without much varsity experience. That proved to be a difference-maker against more veteran teams. That also hampered the run game, which was one of the experienced parts of last year’s squad.
This year the roles are reversed. The line is experienced but the backfield if filled with a group of youngsters looking to feel their way through the season. The most experienced running back on the roster this year is Dawson Hughes who carried the ball 14 times for 75 yards.

3. THIS IS IT

In 2013 the Trojans finished 5-6 and qualified for the Eastern Conference playoffs, they followed that up with a 4-6 showing in 2014. Last year’s two wins did not sit well with anybody involved with the program.
That has been the motivating factor during the offseason, the summer workouts and training camp. This senior class wants to go out winners.
Bruza is allowing this year’s senior class to take more of a vocal role as far as leadership is concerned on the field and in the locker room.
With a new level of leadership coming from within, Bruza is hoping the players can rally around one another and pick each other up.

4. THE SCHEDULE

Just like all the teams in the WVC this year, the Trojans will see some familiar faces and some they haven’t seen in quite some time.
The opener at Tunkhannock will prove to be a nice test right out of the gate.
The following week they are on the road again. The trips to Tunkhannock and Columbia Montour Vo-Tech are the furthest rides the team has to take this season. What Bruza likes about the schedule is that fans can recognize the opponents this year.
Crestwood and Pittston Area are two of the bigger WVC opponents the Trojans will face this season.
All told, the Trojans will play four Class 4A teams, five Class 3A teams and one Class A team.

SIZING UP THE TROJANS

QUARTERBACKS
Matt Wrubel returns for his second season as the starter. Last year he threw for 456 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for four touchdowns. He will be backed up by Colby Butczynski and Dylan Szychowski.

RUNNING BACKS
This will be a position by committee this season.
The backs are Dawson Hughes, Ian Novakowski, John Pietrzyk, Nate Harrison, Eric Jeffries and Mark Walters.
Hughes is the most experience back returning, having carried the ball 14 times last year. Novakoski and Pietrzyk each had 13 carries last season.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Szychowski, Matt Piontkowski, Walters and Darren Boseman are the receivers.
Of the group, Piontkowski had two receptions last season for 36 yards.

OFFENSIVE LINE
The centers are Kyle Bobeck and Andrew Gurzynski.
Kris Seiwell and John Guszak are at guard.
The tackles are Cooper Bartle and Austin Belles.
The tight ends are Justin Casey and Brian Reakes.
Casey led the team in receptions last year with 11 for 176 yards.

DEFENSIVE LINE
The ends are Piontkowski and Casey.
The tackles are Cooper Bartle, Brad Markowski and Kyle Bobeck.

LINEBACKERS
Outside linebackers will be Pietrzyk, Novakowski, Harrison, Jeffries and Austin Cheslaw.
The inside linebackers are Guszak and Seiwell.

SECONDARY
The corners are Mark Walters and Darren Boseman, while Szychowski is the safety.